The patent, published last week, describes an opt-in system, so this isn't something Microsoft would include as a background Windows task, and it could result in cash payments.
Microsoft is seeking to patent technology that uses idle gaming PCs to train AI models in exchange for some form of digital currency.
Filed in 2025 by Microsoft Technology Licensing and published last week, the patent describes distributing AI training tasks in a system similar to Folding@Home, in which a global network of powerful gaming PCs could use their idle GPU cycles for AI training, PC Games Hardware reports.
The patent, titled Opportunistic Micro-training on Edge Devices Using Spare GPU Utilization (US-20260349820-A1), describes an opt-in system, so this isn't something Microsoft would include as a background Windows task, at least not in its currently described form. Whenever that system ran idle, it could automatically be looped in to completing portions of larger AI training workloads. The system would then track completed work and issue credits that could be redeemed for use with the resulting AI model, free software, or even cash.
The patent describes a responsive system that tracks utilization of key components like memory, CPU, and GPU, as well as temperatures and power draw, and searches for an ideal time when the GPU is not in use and, in particular, is running cool. The last thing Microsoft wants is its distributed AI training system setting anyone's PC on fire. Although RTX 50 GPU owners may need to be more careful there.
Users will be able to manually start or stop jobs, too, so it's not like the system would prevent you from gaming while it churns away on AI training. You'd also be able to set a usage limit to prevent overuse of energy or hardware. Although GPUs don't necessarily degrade with heavier use like some electronics, I'm not sure whether AI training would be covered by your warranty.
Opt in? That's cute. You'll be opted in automatically and good fucking luck finding the opt out.